The Emperor who ruled the continent.
His face, lacking nothing, showed a deep sense of regret.
"Let me ask one last time. Do you really have to go?"
There are not many who receive the Emperor's personal courtesy.
For example, a hero... or the hero who defeated the Demon King... or specifically, the hero Veltebray.
"Emperor."
"Yes."
"There is nothing more I can do here."
"Please remain as the protector of the continent. That alone would suffice as your duty as the hero—"
"No."
"......"
"I have not fulfilled my duty. Even the title of 'hero' is too much for me, let alone 'protector of the continent.'"
"But you defeated the Demon King. Without your dedication, the continent would have been soaked in blood—"
Veltebray let out a deep sigh.
"Emperor."
"Speak."
"I have never defeated the Demon King."
"......!"
A shocking revelation.
He was known to have defeated the Demon King and called the protector of the continent. Yet, he claimed he never defeated the Demon King...
Veltebray smiled bitterly.
"It must have taken care of itself."
"Then what about the proof?"
The proof of defeating the Demon King.
A necklace imbued with absolute dark magic.
Through that necklace, not only the magicians but even the dark mages who followed the Demon King testified in unison that the Demon King was indeed defeated by the hero.
"That is..."
"That is...?"
Veltebray hesitated.
He was undoubtedly the greatest swordsman on the continent. But he had never defeated the Demon King.
For years, he had carried the burden of his conscience. Yet confessing the truth to the Emperor brought him unexpected relief.
Still, he couldn't bring himself to tell the entire story.
How could he?
"Grrr... I’ve lost. Kill me!""That should do it."
"What do you mean by that?"
"The proof that you’ve defeated me."
"...What nonsense is this!"
The proof had been handed to him freely.
Veltebray sighed and stepped into the magic circle.
He had failed in the past, but this time, he truly intended to defeat the Demon King. To kill it.
To kill it and truly become a hero.
That was the purpose of this dimensional leap.
Leaving behind the Emperor, who looked utterly bewildered, Veltebray activated the magic circle.
Wuuuuung—!"Is it a malfunction again this time?"
"Hah... Yeah, it's a malfunction. Happy now?"
"Seriously, why does the ether keep being detected every single day..."
"Still, it's a small amount this time."
"It's small compared to last time."
Choi Seong-gyun and his team arrived at Gyeongbokgung Palace. Once inside, Seong-gyun asked:
"What’s the detector saying?"
"Just a moment. Ah..."
"What is it?"
"X-level alert, sir. You’d better see for yourself."
The needle was going wild.
They hoped it was a malfunction like last time, but it wasn’t.
Seong-gyun's expression hardened.
‘I wanted to visit that pub again.’
The fried eggs there were especially good.
He might not be able to go.
And he worried about whether those loan sharks would bother him again.
Seong-gyun chuckled at his own thoughts.
Who’s worrying about who?
"Prepare!"
"Everyone, draw your weapons!"
Seong-gyun and his team waited in position. They waited and waited again.
They didn’t know what might come out of the sealed channel.
And moments later—
Step, step—Someone walked out.
It was Veltebray.
Surveying his surroundings, Veltebray couldn’t hide his confusion.
‘This isn’t... the Demon Realm?’
After extensive research and trial and error, he had discovered residual heat in the rift to the dimension where the Demon King had vanished.
After further research and tracking that residual heat, he had performed the dimensional leap.
But now...
Instead of demons, there were humans uttering incomprehensible words. Humans wielding what appeared to be primitive cold weapons.
Veltebray hurriedly fumbled with his magic ring, imbued with a translation function.
"……Are you speaking?"
"Ah. Ah, ah! Is this working? Can you understand my words?"
"Yes."
"Good. It seems to be functioning properly."
"Are you a returnee?"
It appeared they wanted introductions.
"I am Veltebray von Veli. Who are you, and where is this?"
Spouting nonsensical words, Veltebray.
Seong-gyun turned to his team.
"Seems like a returnee?"
"Yes. Judging by the gibberish, definitely."
Returnees often suffered from aftereffects, with a 50% likelihood of experiencing such conditions. That was why rehabilitation programs had been established.
Seong-gyun approached Veltebray.
"Uh... sir, we’re from the Management Bureau. We understand the situation might be confusing, but we ask for your cooperation as we proceed with standard procedures."
Bang!
A gunshot rang out from the west.
Seo-woo, unfazed by the sound, was stroking Yeoksam.
"Do we have to keep walking him?"
"Yes! Yeoksam wants to keep walking!"
Whine—
It didn’t seem like it...
Seo-jun sighed and followed Seo-woo.
"A transport vehicle?"
"A returnee, perhaps?"
"What else would make the transport vehicle move?"
"True. Hopefully, this one isn’t another lunatic. The last returnee was a cannibal who ate everyone he saw."
"Eugh."
The neighborhood gossips were chattering as the transport vehicle disappeared around the corner.
Seo-woo called out to Seo-jun, who was staring at the van.
"Uncle!"
"Yeah?"
"Are you making fried eggs again today?"
"Do you want some?"
"Of course!"
"Alright, I’ll make them. But let’s head back for now. Your dad will be waiting."
After escorting Seo-woo home, Seo-jun made an excuse about stopping by the store and slipped out again.
The blurry scenery shifted as he reappeared in Yeoksam-dong, inside a building once used as an insurance company headquarters.
Now... a Returnee Rehabilitation Center?
What a strange name for a building.
Eighth floor.
In the middle of the main street, a person floated gently into the air. Yet no one paid any attention.
Because no one could see them.
Arriving on the eighth floor, Seo-jun neutralized the guards and followed the odd presence.
A short while later, Seo-jun stood before the source of the unusual energy.
His opponent was glaring back at him.
"You... how...!"
"It’s been a while. Vel..."
Seo-jun frowned.
He couldn’t quite recall the exact name.
"Don’t tell me you forgot my name?"
"No, of course not. Vel..."
"Veltebray. My name is Veltebray!"
"Ah, sorry. Veltebray. It’s been so long, I forgot."
"Ugh...!"
"But why are you here?"
Suddenly, a white aura emanated from Veltebray's body. An awakened being might have been astonished.
It meant he was infusing his entire body with ether, usually reserved for weapons.
Boom!
Veltebray swung his fist.
His eyes filled with shock.
Seo-jun had nonchalantly sidestepped the attack with a slight tilt of his head, arms still crossed.
"How...?"
"I’ll ask again. Velte..."
"Veltebray!"
"Yes, Veltebray. Why are you here?"
"I came to finish what was left undone!"
Veltebray swung his fist again. Once more, Seo-jun casually dodged, lost in thought.
Their connection went back to an almost forgotten past.
A long, long time ago.
There was a moment when Seo-jun had descended to the mortal realm on a whim to drink.
It was then that he had encountered Veltebray.
The heavens, upon learning of his descent, had issued an oracle to humanity, selecting heroes to oppose him.
Veltebray had been like a modern-day Kwan Chang.(TL/N: Kwan Chang is a Pro Wrestler) No matter how many times he was spared, he kept coming back.
Seo-jun had grown so annoyed with him that he left behind a proof of their encounter and returned to the Demon Realm.
And now, that very person...
Huff, huff! Huff, huff, huff!
Huh?
Why is he panting?
"Are you alright?"
Huff, huff, huff!
Thud!
Exhausted, Veltebray collapsed.
Seo-jun, staring down at him with a puzzled expression, finally made a decision and picked him up.
As the two disappeared, the rehabilitation center erupted in chaos.
"The returnee has vanished!"
"What? How is that possible? What about the guards?"
"They seem to have been subdued with magic!"
"GPS! Track them with GPS!"
"T-tracking is impossible..."
A state of emergency was declared.
The child’s bright eyes were the first thing visible. The savory smell of oil wafted through the air, and then came the sound...
"Uncle! He’s awake!"
"Seo-woo, why don’t you go play with Yeoksam?"
"Okay!"
Thump, thump.
Veltebre unconsciously tensed up.
The neatly arranged tables and chairs. The cabinets filled with alcohol and paintings.
And then...
"You’re awake?"
The Demon King.
Veltebre tried to draw on his ether. But he couldn’t feel it—the ether he had built up over decades.
"Don’t worry. It’s just temporarily blocked, so you don’t cause any trouble."
To block someone else’s ether... he had never heard of such a thing.
Gulp.
"What are you planning to do with me?"
"Nothing. I just have some questions."
"..."
"Why did you come here?"
"I told you. I came to finish what was left unfinished."
Seo-jun's face twisted.
So that’s really why...
He had always known this guy was peculiar and eccentric, but to follow him to the ends of the earth?
"Just one more question. What happened to Charleson?"
Charleson was a simple mountain boy Seo-jun had met when he descended to the mortal realm.
To the end, Charleson had believed Seo-jun was just a noble exploring the world. Thanks to him, Seo-jun had managed to travel across the continent, even briefly.
"..."
"Did you kill him?"
"I’m not a demon! I don’t harm innocent lives!"
"Then why don’t you answer? What happened to Charleson?"
"That is..."
Seo-jun’s face hardened. Intangible killing intent began radiating around him. Terrified, Veltebre shouted.
"The butler!"
"What?"
"I took him in! He worked as a butler at my estate."
Veltebre’s face flushed bright red, humiliated.
"Well, thank you for that."
"There’s no need to thank me. I only kept him because he was good with numbers. Now it’s my turn to ask."
"As much as you want."
"Where was that place we were earlier?"
"A rehabilitation center for returnees."
"That’s an unusual name. And where are we now?"
Just as he was about to answer, Seo-jun interrupted urgently.
"From now on, you’re Park Yeon."
"Park... Yeon?"
"My name is Lee Seo-jun. You’re the person who helped me when I got sucked into the channel. Got it?"
Veltebre nodded blankly, not fully understanding. At that moment, Yeon-jun entered the shop, his arms full of paper bags.
"Hyung."
"You’re here?"
"Yeah. But who’s this...?"
Seo-jun signaled with his eyes.
Veltebre, looking back and forth between Seo-jun and Yeon-jun...
No.
"I am... uh, Park Yeon."
"Oh, I’m Lee Yeon-jun. You seem to know my brother?"
Brother? The Demon King has a brother?
Still reeling from the shock.
Tap, tap.
"Ah! Yes! I am... the person who got sucked into the channel with Lee Seo-jun. That’s right."
"Are you perhaps the person who helped my brother when he got sucked into the channel?"
"Ah... yes. I suppose that’s correct. I must be that person."
Suddenly—
"Thank you! Truly, thank you!"
Park Yeon felt utterly bewildered.